ISAAC DEAN GURLEY
Died Nov. 6, 2011
Isaac Dean Gurley, 68, died Nov. 6, 2011, at Wayne Memorial Hospital after a period of declining health.
Dean's survivors include his wife and best friend of 39 years, Jackie Jarrell Gurley; his son, Bradford Dean Gurley; and his daughter-in-law, Meredith.
He was predeceased by his parents, Clara and J. Isaac Gurley.
A Wayne County businessman and farmer, Dean was a 1961 graduate of Goldsboro High School, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a business administration major.
He was a lifelong member of the University of North Carolina Alumni Association.
He attained the rank of major in the United States Army, and was a company commander of the Goldsboro National Guard unit.
Dean loved his family, the University of North Carolina, boats, especially the Jackie L., history and learning. He also enjoyed the opportunity to share trivia facts with others.
A fourth generation farmer, Dean operated tobacco warehouses in Valdosta, Ga., and Goldsboro. He helped to revive the cotton industry in Wayne County, and was a delegate member of the National Cotton Council of America. He served on the board of the American Warehouse Association.
Dean's first community service office was the Wayne County 4-H Advisory Board. He was chairman of the board of trustees for Wayne Memorial Hospital and Wayne Health.
He also served on the boards of the following: First Union Bank, Wayne Country Day School, BB&T, Government Affairs (Seymour Johnson Air Force Base), Blue Cross Blue Shield, Wayne County Transportation Commission, the Wayne County Economic Development Commission, the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, the North Carolina and American Hospital Associations.
A member of the Pikeville Harmony Lodge No. 340 A.F. & A.M., he served in several offices.
Dean was a faithful member of St. Francis Episcopal Church, where he was a past vestry member and treasurer.
Funeral services will be held at St. Francis Episcopal Church Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, at 11 a.m.
The family will greet friends immediately following the service at the church.
Burial will be at Wayne Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Alzheimer's North Carolina Inc. at P.O. Box 10608, Goldsboro, N.C., 27532, or St. Francis Episcopal Church at 503 Forest Hill Drive, Goldsboro, N.C., 27534.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on November 8, 2011 1:49 PM